Machine for manufacturing pile fabric



Aug. 17, 1937. H. H BAYNTON ET AL MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FILE FABRIC Filed July 18, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Hmow JHMES W F05 TER MACHINE FOR MANi FACTL SIHG FILE FABRIC Filed July 18, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 "DIR HIHHH 2 ml: 21 or/x Aug. 17, 1937. H. H. BAYNTON ET AL 2,090,022

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FILE FABRIC Filed July 18, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hmow H. Ban/Tom Java's W FOSTER Aug. 17, 1937. n. H. BAYNTON ET AL MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FILE FABRIC Filed July 18, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 H /mw H. 8/! YNTON; JAMEs W FOSTER Au 17, 1937. H. H. BAYNTON E! #4. 2,090,022

EACHIKE FOR MANUFACTURING FILE FABRiC Filed July 18, 1935 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 I 66 Era vim Aug. 17, 1937. H, H BAYNTON ET AL 2,090,022

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FILE FABRIC 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 18, 1935 JAMESWfbSTER atented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING PILE FABRIC Harold H. Baynton and James William Foster,

Freehold, N. J., assignors to A. & M. Karagheusian, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 18, 1935, Serial No. 32,098

Claims.

table for the fabric as it advances beyond the needles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for the manufacture of pile fabric .or, in other words, a turfing machine. The present machine is so arranged as to provide overlapping angularly positioned stitches, so that it is possible to provide eight more or less stitches to the inch longitudinally of the strip and six more or less stitches to the inch transversely thereof. Thus, the pile. Will be very closely associated, soft to the tread, and rich in appearance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a turfing machine wherein the vertically reciprocating needle bar, the feed of the fabric, and the engagement of the loops by the pile cutters are all synchronized. Thus, after the machine is once started, the application of the stitches to form the loops and the cutting of the doops to form the pile will be done in a quick and rapid manner.

Still another object of the invention is to pro-- vide a machine wherein fabric of the desired width is fed through the machine and the stitches forming the loops are rapidly applied. Also, the depth of the pile cutters determines the depth of the loops or, in other words, the depth of the pile.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a turfing machine wherein the stitches are applied in an overlapping manner and wherein the marginal side strips of the fabric are not stitched, so that the same may be folded back and cemented to the pile fabric, leaving nonstitched or non-turflng marginal strips. Thus, when several strips are sewed to each other to form a rug or carpet, the marginal edges of these strips may be sewed to like adjacent edges and the seams will not be perceptible from the pile side. This pile fabric with an added intermediate strip and base forms the subject-matter of a separate application filed by us on June 4, 1935, bearing Serial Number 24,940, for Rugs and carpets.

Also, the machine for turning over these marginal side strips and applying the intermediate strip and base forms the subject-matter of a further companion application filed by us on July 2, 1935, bearing Serial Number 29,546, for

Machine for applying an intermediate strip and base to pile fabrics.

An'dlastly, the pile cutters per se used in the machine also form the subject-matter of a com-.

panion application filed by us on June 1-8, 1935, bearing Serial Number 27,243, for File cutters.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine whereina rolled strip of fabric, preferably burlap, is fed through the machine and the stitches applied to form loops .on the pile cutters, the feeding of the fabric being.

timed with the travel of the needles and with the movement of the pile cutters.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for the rapid and efficient manufacture of pile fabric wherein the pile cutters are mounted in a cutter bar, which bar, in turn,

The pile cutters also serve as a work support is mounted in a reciprocating cutter head, so, that the pile cutters in their reciprocation respective-,

for the advancing fabric and engage and hold; a

the built-up loops which are severed by a forward movement of the pile cutters-and at a time when the fabric is stationary.

Still another object of the invention isto pro- ,vide a tu'rfing machine wherein the loops are formed on .the under side of the fabric and about the pile cutters, the loops, in turn, being severed by the knife blades on the under edge of the pile cutters. These pile cutters also have hooks at their forward ends to engage and hold the loops on the pile cutters, and as the loops are formed about the forward end of these pile cutters, likewise the depth of the pile will be determined by the height of the pile cutters at their forward ends.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive turfing machine wherein the fabric, after passing through the machine, is in condition to then be subjected to a further machine for either applying a fabric backing, which is impregnated with a rubber in liquid form to seal the stitches in place, or a fabric intermediate strip is to be applied and a felt base, all asset forth in the heretofore mentioned companion applications, to wit: Rugs and carpets, Serial No. 24,940, filed June 4, 1935, and Machine for applying an intermediate strip and base topile fabrics, Serial No..

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of what we term the forward portion of the machine;

Fig. 1 is an elevation from the other side of the rear portion of the machine; Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken on the line bb of Fig. 1 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the forward part of themachine;

Fig. 3 is an end view, on an enlarged scale, of the forward part of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1, the needle bar being in its raised position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3, illustrating the manner of reciprocating the cutter head;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the needle bar, the comb, the cutter head, and associated parts;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the same;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relationship of the needle and the cutter head when the needle is in its uppermost position;

" Fig. 8 is a similar view of the lowered needle and the pile cutter mounted in the cutter bar of the cutter head, the pile cutter having passed between the needle and yarn to form a loop about the pile cutter;

' Fig. 9 is a similar view showing the needle in its upstroke and the loop now formed in the fabric and about the pile cutter;

Flg..l0 shows the start of the second descent of the needle, the cutter head and its pile cutter having returned and the fabric having advanced;

Fig. 11 is a similar View showing both the uncut and severed loops in the fabric and the manner in which these loops are built up on the pile cutter;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of a pile cutter and the needle with its yarn after having passed through the fabric, the dotted lines showing the loop engaged by the pile cutter and the extent of travel of the pile cutter;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged top plan view of the pile cutter, the needle and loop being shown in section and the dotted lines showing. how the pile cutter will be slightly deflected after engaging or swiping the needle;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view showing the pile cutter as having engaged and hooked the loop and returned; r

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the pile cutter, showing the built-up loops thereon; Fig. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the fabric showing how the stitches are overlapped;

Fig. 17 is an enlargeifragmentary sectional view taken on the line I|-l1 of Fig. 12 and showing the needle with its eye being set at an angle of 45 to the path of movement of the fabric;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the needle, on an enlarged scale, showing the cut-out portion above the eye;

Fig. 18 is another detail side view of the needle; and

Fig. 19 is a perspectiveof a fragmentary strip of the 'pile fabric with its applied stitches, the loops having been cut to form the pile and showing the marginal side strips that are not stitched.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment, andfor the moment to Figs. 1 and 2, there will be seen a rectangular main cast iron or steel frame I, forwardly from which extends the angle iron frame 2 with its uprights 3. Located on this latter frame may be seen the small guide roll 4 and the fabric supporting board 5, over bot of which pass the fabric 6, which is in roll fon on the shaft 1, which latter is supported by tl standards 8.

Beneath the angular frame 2 there may a1: be seen the shaft I!) mounted in the frames I while also mounted on the shaft ID are the pu leys l2 and I3, the ,pulley I3 being driven k the belt I4 from a motor l5 mounted under tl cast frame I and the pulley [2 with its belt It operates the main drive shaft I6 of this tuftin machine. There is also a drive pulley I! an an idler pulley l8 on the shaft I6 of the ma chine, so that the latter can be started or stoppe by a movement of the belt shifter l9, as will It readily apparent from Fig. '3.

On the outer ends of the shaft 16 may I: seen the balance or fly wheels 20, so that th rotation of this shaft will be in an even an steady manner. I

Referring now for the moment to Fig. 3, ther will also be seen the main timing shaft 2|, hat ing the gear 22 meshing with a pinion 23 that I mounted on the aforementioned drive shaft II This shaft 2| is mounted in suitable standard and from this timing shaft are operated th needle bar, the feeding of the fabric, and th reciprocating cutter head with its pile cutter. as will all be shortly explained.

Description of needles, needle bar, and its associated parts Still referring to Fig. 3, and to the shaft 2 it will be noticed that there are mounted on th opposite ends thereof the two eccentrics, the on 24 to the left of Fig. 3 and the other 25 t the right thereof. The eccentric 24 also has a outer peripheral cam face, which will be late mentioned. Mounted in the eccentric 24 is th crank pin 26, to which, in turn, is secured th crank arm 21, which latter is fastened at it upper end to the trunnion 28. As will be noticec there is a turn-buckle 29 interposed in the cran arm, so that its length may be changed to mor accurately regulate the stroke or movement 0 the needle 'bar. The trunnion 28 is mounted i: the head 30 which, in turn, vertically slides 01 the standard 3|. In a like manner, there is crank arm 32 on the eccentric 25 connected wit] the trunnion 33 on a like oppositely located hea 34, which also slides on its standard 35.

Supported by the two heads is the needle ba 36, which is held to the respective heads by th bolts 31. Each of the heads 30 and 34 'ha the respective'plates 31a to form the outer con forming walls of the head.

Referring now for the moment to- Fig. 4, th needle bar 36 is shown in cross section, and ther will be noticed the needle 38 held inposition b; a set-screw 39. There may also be seen th opening 40 in the bar, so that the yarn 4| ma; pass therethrough and then through the eye 41 of the needle 38. Of course, these yarn threat openings will extend across the bar, so that eacl needle will be supplied with its yarn, but botl the needles and these yarn openings terminatl at points slightly remote. from the respective end. of the bar. The reason for this is that the pill fabric is not stitched or tufted across its entirl width, as there are to be marginal side strip: which are to be folded back and cemented to thl pile fabric, as heretofore mentioned. However it will be understood that the machine may bl made of any desired width to accommodate an:

length needle bar with its needles, so that the pile fabric itself may be of any required width. Reference might be made at this time to Figs.

18 and 18*, which show the needles 38.-on an enlarged scale. It will be noticed that the shank is cut-away, as 'at 44, just above the ye 42, which eye, of course,,is located slightly a ve the point 46 of the needle. These needles are set in the needle bar 36 with their eyes 42 at substantially an angle of 45 with relation to the path of travel of the fabric, as may be seen from Fig. 17, so that the pile cutters 11 (see Fig. 13) will just strike or swipe, the walls of the cut-o'ut portions 64 of the needles and the pile cutters be deflected slightly, as shown by the dotted lines 41a. This setting of the needles with their eyes and the wall of thecut-out portion at substantially 45 to the path of travel of the fabric permits the pile cutter to accurately and successfully pass through the resultant angularly positioned loop of yarn L, as may be seen from Figs. 12 and 13. As mentioned, by positioning the needles 38 at the angle described, the stitches 48, as seen in the fragmentary piece of pile fabric 6, in Fig. 16, will be arranged in an angular mannenand by regulating the step by step feed of the cloth or fabric, later to be described, these stitches 48 will slightly overlap, that is, the forward end of one stitch will extend in a plane beyond the to rear portion of the preceding stitch. This allows more stitches to the running foot and also more transversely of the fabric and, of course. the greater the number of loops, the closer and thicker thepile.

Description of the comb Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, there will be seen extending across the machine and mounted on top of the cast iron frame what we term the loop separator comb 49. This is in the form of a bar cut out on its rear face to form a manifold 56, the manifold being sealed on its rear face by the plate 5| held in place by the screws 52. 45 We have, shown,

suitable air supply (not shown}. Leading from this manifold is a plurality of small air passageways 56, while in vertically arranged slots, there to is positioned a plurality of metal needle guide plates 55. These passageways 54 extending between the plates permit the air to be blown from the manifold into each space or compartment formed by these needle guide plates 55.

In Fig. 10 is shown how the yarn ll will be blown by its air jet, so that the yarn is kept in a uniform position and on the proper sideof the needle.

In Fig. 5 (in the broken-away portion below 60 the needle bar) may be seen several of the metal needle guide plates 55 to illustrate the manner in which they provide the respective spaces for each of the respective needles and these plates are so positioned that they will just contact with the respective needles as the latter reciprocate, to thus prevent any lateral bending or misalignment of the needles in their travel.

With the comb formed in this manner, therefore, it will be seen that the needles are always prevented from bending out of alignment and. at the same time, the yarn, due to the air m?- fold, is always kept on the proper side of he needles, so that there is no chance of false stitches 1 or tangled loops.

fragmentarily, an inlet pipe 53 for this manifold, which may be connected to a Description of the reciprocating cutter head f Referring now for the moment to Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 6, there is shown the mechanism for recip-- rocating the cutter head which, in turn, it will be remembered, includes the work rest and needle guide and the cutter bar wherein the pile cutters are mounted. It will also be noticed that the main timing shaft 2| (driven from the shaft I6) besides having eccentrics at its opposite ends is provided with the two cams, 56 to the left of Fig. 3 and 51 to the right thereof. There will also be noticed the two arms 58 and 59, which cooperate with these cams. 58 is the roller 60, which latter engages the cam 56, and in a like manner, there is a roller 6| mounted on the arm 56, which cooperates with its cam 51. These two arms'58 and 59 are pivotally mounted at their lower ends, as at 62, on the shaft 63.

Now secured to the main frame are the horizontally grooved tracks 64 in which slides the reciprocating cutter head 65 with its front webbed cross piece 66, as may be seen in Fig. 3. Positioned just behind the web may be seen two brackets 61.

Glancing at Fig. 6, there will be seen fastened to one of these brackets a connecting link 68 with its turn-buckle 69, the link being pivoted at its rear end in the slot 16 to the arm 59. It will be understood that both of the arms 58 and 59 are connected in the same manner to the brackets 61 on the cutter head so that as the timing shaft 2| revolves with its cams 56 and 51, the cutter head will be reciprocated under the needle bar in its aforementioned tracks 66. Referring to Fig. 5 for the moment, which is a fragmentary top plan view showing the 'needle bar, a portion of the comb, and the reciprocating cutter head, it will be understood that the side bar 1| of the cutter head 65 is duplicated to slide in the oppositely positioned track while the webbed cross piece 66 extends to these two side Mounted on the arm bars. Also extending parallel with this webbed cross piece 66 and mounted on and near the opposite end of the cutter head 65 is the'cloth or fabric rest and needle guide bar 12. Thus, it will be seen that as the cutter head reciprocates, .not only does the cutter bar with its pile cutters thereon reciprocate, as will be shortly explained, but the cloth rest and needle guide bar 12 also reciprccates.

The cloth rest and needle guide bar 12 may be clearly seen in Fig. 6 and is bolted to the cutter head by the bolts 13. It has its upper surface slightly tapered, as at 14, while along its forward edge 15 are placed the small metal fingers or plates 16, which may also be seen in top plan in Fig. 5. It is on top of this bar 12 and on top of the plurality of properly spaced plates or fingers 16 that thefabric is supported as his passed under the needles and to the top of the pile cutters, as may be seen in the various views.

As may be seen in Fig. 5, these fingers 16 are positioned directly beneath the aforementioned plates of the comb and when the cutter head is in its normal position, that.is, to the right in Figs. 5 and 6, and the needles have descended, the said fingers 16 will be in the position shown in Fig. 5, "that is, just about opposite the. center of the needles (looking down on the machine). It is these fingers 16 that take up the strain on the fabric as the needles are penetrating the same, and they also tend to keep the needles in their proper vertical alignment after the needles have pierced the fabric orcloth.

Referring again for the moment to the cutter head, Fig. 6, it will be seen that above the webbed 5 cross piece 66, there is provided the one portion I8 of the cutter bar having the dowel pins I9 therein'that register with properly spaced holes in the front cross piece 66, this cutter bar being secured in position by the bolts 80. There is also 10 a top plate 8| which overlies the upper edges of what we term the heel plates 82 of the pilecutters 11. The lower edges 83 of these heel plates,

which are part of the pile cutters, rest in slots in the other portion 84 of the cutter bar. Likewise, there is a plate 85 held in position on the portion 84 of the cutter bar after the pile cutters- 11 are in their set position, so that the heel plates of the pile cutters are held substantially on all four sides and thus braced against any undesired bending or twisting action.

tongue 88, while the forward end of the blade fits into the folded-over sides of the fingers of the pile cutters, as will be readily understood. At the forward end or nose-of the pile cutter, there may be seen the hook 89, and it will lso be noticed that extending from a point slightly to the rear of the nose, the pile cutter is greater in height than at the point 9I. This is because the pile cutter is reduced or cut-away slightly, as at 9|, to

permita freer movement of the pile cutter through the loops after the loops have passed therefore, there is no distortion or downward pull on the fabric as the loops build up on the pile cutters.' In other words, there is no possibility of the loops choking or being strangled on the pile cutters before they reach the knife blade 81. This is also clearly set forth in the companion 5 application just 'mentioned, namely, the application filed by us on June 18, 1935, bearing Serial Number 27,243, for Pile cutters.

In Fig. 12, there is shown in dotted lines the forward limit of travel of the pile cutter, while in Fig. 13, the dotted lines 41a show how the pile cutter will engage the cut-out surface 44 of the needle 38 and be deflected slightly. By positioning the pile cutters in this manner with relation to the needle, there is no possibility that the pile cutter will not pass between the yarn and the needle which, of course, would prevent the loop from being hooked and later severed.

In Figs. 14 and 15, there is shown how the hooked nose 89 of the pile cutter has engaged tle loop'L of the yarn and also how the loops build up on the pile cutter, so that they may be severed by a forward movement of the reciprocating cutter head and the knife blade 81 of the pile cutter after the loops have built up on the pile 7 cutter.

It will be noticed that the depth .of the loop will be the same" as the distance from the lower to the top edges atthe portion 90 of the pile cutter, so that if greater depth of pile is desired,

Pile cutters 11 of different size'will be used.

from the front portion,90 to the reduced portion By forming the pile cutters in this manner,

In Fig. 5, the spacing of these pile cutters in the cutter bar is shown, and it will, of. course, be

understood that each pile cutter 11 will pass beneath the spaces between the respective plates 55 of the comb to strike the reduced portion of the respective needles which, it will be remembered, are set at an angle. The pile cutters will pass between the respective yarn strands and.

the needles, so that when the needles ascend, the, loops, in turn, will be built up on the pile cutters.' Also,-it will be seen'from Fig. 5 that when the cutter head is to the right, as shown in this figure, the. fingers I6 of the work rest I2 will straddle the respective needles with their yarn.

By-providing the turn-buckles 59 that connect the cutter head with the arms 58 and 59 which are, in turn, operated by the cams 56 and 51, accurate adjustment may be made, so that the reciprocating cutter head will be properly positioned with respect'to the needles.

The length 'of travel of the cutter head with its pile.cutters in actual practice is while the step by step movement of the cloth or fabric is generally /8". Of course, the distance the cloth or fabric moves each time will regulate the size length of the stitches. t

Mechanism for feeding the fabric 36, where the stitches are applied. The cloth or fabric, in continuing, then' passes along'the upper edges of the pile cutters 'I'I, where it again 1 passes over a small roller 91 to a second spike roller 98, which is power-driven in a step by step movement. After passing under this spike roller, the fabric 6 moves up over the idler roller 99 and then downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, I

under the roller I00 (Fig. 4), and then beneath the fioor boards IOI, onwhich the operator will stand. It then continues to the roller I 02 (see Fig. 1 where it is wound on a shaft I03 mounted in a support-- I04.

Glancing at Figs. 1, 1 and 3, there will be seen the lever I05, which is pivoted, as at I06, and provided with a roller I01 to, in turn, engage the periphery I08 of the eccentric 24, which eccentric has its periphery in the shape of a cam, as heretofore mentioned. It will be remembered that this eccentric is mounted on one end of the timing shaftZI.

Still glancing at Fig. 1 there will be seen a turn-buckle I09 fastened. to the upper end of the lever arm I05 and at its other end to the plate or arm IIO, which is oscillatably mounted on the shaft III, there being a spring pawl I I2 'to engage the feeding ratchet II3 mounted on the shaft III. I This shaft III, it will be remembered, supports the spike roller-98.

Also, there will be noticed on the end of the shaft supporting the spike roller 94 a small belt wheel I50 over which fits a strap I5I, which is weighted, as at II4, the other end of the strap being secured to the bracket I I5, so that there will always be a tension on the fabric where it extends between the two spike rollers, that is, beneath the needle bar. In other words, to prevent the roller 94 from slippage or loose movement. this usual weighted means is employed. Ratchets H3 with a greater or lesser number of teeth thereon may be utilized when it is desiredto increase or decrease the amount of step by 5 step movement of the cloth or fabric which, in

turn, will, of course, affect the length of the stitches.

Still referring to Fig. 1 it will be noticed that at the bottom of the lever I05, there is a rod H6 10 that connects also to the lever III, which is pivoted, as at- H8, to one of two arms I23, which lever is provided with a pawl H9 at its end to engage a further ratchet I20, which will have, of course, the same number of teeth as the ratchet II3. This latter ratchet is mounted on the shaft I2I, which alsosupports a spike roller I22. The lever III, as before mentioned, is pivoted at II8 to one of the arms I23, the arms, in turn, being pivotally mounted, as at I24 to the stub shafts I (see Fig. 1 It will be understood that these two arms I23 support the shaft I,2I with the spike roller I22 extending therebetween. Springs I26 are fastened to the arms I23 and to the base I04 to hold the spike roller in contact 25 with the roll of pile fabric.

This pivotal arrangement permits the spike roller to move outwardly from the roll as it increases. It will be seen that inasmuch as the lever II! is connected with the lever I05 and the ratchets are of the same'size, the turfed fabric will be wound on its roll at the same rate of speed that it is drawn through the machine.

As far as the specification has proceeded, it will be seen that the movement of the needle bar,

movement of the cutter head, and the ratchet mechanism for drawing the fabric through the machine and for winding it on a roll at the end of the, machine are all timed and operated from the one main timing shaft 2 I. he ratchets em- 49 ployed in the present machine, in turning, ad-

vance the cloth substantially at a time, so

. that the stitches will be of this length.

Before briefly describing the operation of the machine, it might be mentioned that built up 45 from the frame 2, there will be noticed the racks I21 with the spindles I 28, on which will be mounted the yarn bobbins I29. Also, there will be a pig-tail I30 for each bobbin, from which the yarn will travel through the aligning board I3I to the 50 respective'needles.

Operation Glancing for the moment at Figs. '1 to 11, inclusive, which show a series of positions for the 55 needles with respect to the cutter head, it will be understood that in Fig. '7, the needle 38 in the needle bar 36 (not shown in these figures) is about to descend. The cutter head 65 will also be in the position shown, that is, at the right. 60 The fabric 6 has passed under the comb and is in a position ready to be turfed and have the loops formed thereunder. Then, as the needle bar descends, the needle 38 (Fig. 8.) will pierce the fabric 6, carrying, of course,its yarn with it. Now while the needle is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 8, the cutter head 65 will move to the left, so 'that the pile cutter 11 will advance, that is, move to the left, and pass between the needle and the yarn strands. The pile cutter in advancing, it will be remembered, will strike the cut-out portion of the needle, as heretofore mentioned, and diverge slightly to one side.

Then, as the needle 38 (Fig. 9) rises, the loop will be drawn tightly about the pile cutter 11,

75 that is, about the portion 90, which is not reduced. The timed relation between the movement of the needle bar and the movement of the cloth or fabric is such that by the time the needle bar approximates its upper end of travel or perhaps A" from its upper limit of travel, the cloth or fabric will have been drawn toward the operator by the step by step operation of v roller 98 which, it will be remembered, is operated by the cam I01 driven by the timing shaft 2| and, in turn, operating the lever I05 which operates the spike roller through its pawl and ratchet.

The timing of the cutter head with relation to the needle bar is also as above-mentioned, that is, asthe cloth or fabric moves toward the operator, the cutter head moves in the same direction or, in otherwords, the pile cutters and fabric move toward the. operator in unison- In FignlO, the draft from the manifold may be seen blowing a strand of yarn to the proper side of the downwardly coming needle and the loop' now hooked by the pilecutter.

Fig. 11 shows a multiplicity of loops about the pile cutter and the manner in which they are severed when they engage the knife blade 81.

From the movements set forth in these Figs. 7 to 11, it will be readily apparent that when the needle is at its lowermost point, the yarn and needle are engaged by the forward movementof the pile cutter, and. while the needle is nearing the limit of its upward stroke the cutter head is returned, the cloth also moving at this time. The loops are severed on a forward movement of the cutter head and its pile cutter, as will be readily understood.

It will benoted in Fig. 19 that the two marginal side edges I33 of the fabric are not stitched, as these are to be. gummed' and folded back on the fabric, as set forth in the companion application, to wit, filedby us on July 2, 1935, bearing Serial Number 29,546, for Machine for applying an intermediate strip and base to pile fabrics.

To start the machine, the handle I1 will be operated to slide the belt from the idler pulley to the work pulley on the shaft IE to, in turn, drive the main timing shaft 2I which, through the eccentrics 24 and 25,. will operate the needle bar 36 and throughthe cams 56 and 51 will operate the reciprocating cutter head with its plurality of pile cutters 11 therein. The feeding of the cloth or fabric has been described and will not be reiterated.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the the spike machine is a relatively simple one and there are only two eccentrics for operating the needle bar,

two cams for operating the cutter head, and-one cam for operating the feed of the fabric or cloth through the machine. It will also be noticed that one of the ordinary work tables is dispensed with, as the pile cutter forms a support for the fabric as it passes from its opposite work table to the pile cutters.

Also, by positioning the needles at an angle and cutting out the needles, as shown, and by forming the pile cutters with the hooked nose and the knife blades on their under surface. and mounting them in the reciprocating cutter head, it is possible to have the machine operate in a rapid manner to catch and build up the loops on the pile cutters and have the advanced loops severed as they move onthe reciprocating pile cutters.

We have found in actualservice that a machine designed and constructed as above will neatly arrange the stitches in the fabric and at the same time the fabric may be kept in a taut condition while under the needles and the needles, in turn, prevented from any bending or misalignment during their operation.

Furthermore, there is no unnecessary downward thrust or pull on the pile fabric, as' the pile cutters being undercut may slide freely through the previously formedloops. The pile may be arranged in this relatively close position to=thus provide a rich looking pile fabric and one that is extremely soft to the tread.

As heretofore mentioned, after the. material has been tufted, as herein set forth, it may be placed in the machine shown in the companion application, to wit, filed by us on July 2, 1935, bearing Serial Number 29,546, for Machine for applying an intermediate strip and base to pile fabrics, and a backing and felt base secured thereto. g

Many slight changes are possible in the construction hereinbefore set forth without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including fabric feeding mechanism, loop stitching mechanism, means for severing the loops, and the means for severing the loops acting as a support for the fabric as it passes along from the stitching mechanism.

2. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including means for forming loops in a fabric, means for feeding the fabric in a step by step movement in the same plane, horizontally movable means for hookedly engaging the loops and for severing the same, and the means last referred to supporting the pile fabric, and timing mechanism for synchronizing the movement of the loop forming means, fabric feeding means, and hookedly engaging and severing means.

3. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including fabric feeding means, a vertically reciprocating needle bar with needles therein, a. horizontally reciprocating cutter head mounted under the needle bar having a work rest thereon and positioned to one side of the needle bar, pile cutters also on the cutter head and positioned to the other side of the needle bar, the said needles stitching loops on the under surface of the fabric, means for reciprocating the cutter head to pass the pile cutters into said loops, the fabric supported and moving on the work rest and on the said pile cutters, and timing means for synchronizing the movement of the cutter head, the fabric, and the needle bar. I I

4. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including a main timing shaft, ratchet means con nected with the timing shaft for feeding the fabric through the machine, a vertically reciprocating needle bar with needles therein, 'means connecting the needle bar to said timing shaft, a

reciprocating cutter head having pile cutters mounted thereon, means operated by the said timing shaft for reciprocating said cutter head, the needles adapted to form loops in the pile fabric, the pile cutters adapted to pass through said loops to sever the same, and the pile cutters acting as a work support for the fabric after the needles have formed the loops in said pile fabric.

5. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including a reciprocating needle bar having loop forming needles therein, a comb positioned beneath the needle bar, an air manifold in the comb and having outlets therefrom directed toward the needles and adapted to prevent the yarn in the needles from getting in the path of the said needles, a reciprocating cutter head having a'pile cutter therein for each needle, means for moving the cutter headin timed relation .with the movement of the needles whereby the pile cutters will engage the yarn in the needles to form a loop on the under surface of the fabric, the pile cutters also severing the loops on the forward movement of the pile cutters, and means for feeding the fabric under the needles in certain timed relation with the movement of the cutter head.

6. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including yarn carrying reciprocating needles, pile cutters adapted to move forwardly and pass between respective strands of yarn and the needles after the latter have pierced the fabric to thus form loops on said pile cutters, means for moving the fabric, means-for retracting the pile cutters in unison with the movement of the fabric, the forward movement of the pile cutters severing the advanced loops built up on the pile cutters, and the pile cutters forming a work support for the fabric.

7. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including reciprocating yarn carrying needles, reciprocating pile cutters synchronized with the movement of the needles whereby the yarn will be looped through the fabric and about the pile cutters, means for feeding the pile fabric in unison with a rearward movement of the pile cutters, the built-up loops on the pile cutters being severed by a forward movement of the pile cutters, and means connected with the fabric feeding means for also rolling up the pile fabric as it leaves the machine.

8. A machine for manufacturing pile fabric including yarn carrying needles, hook-nosed pile cuttersadapted to extend through the yarn loops beneath the fabric,the pile cutters having blades in their under edges and adapted to sever the bottoms of the loops, and the pile cutters also acting as a support for the fabric as it passes under the needles and along the pile cutters.

9. A tufting machine including a reciprocating needle bar having yarn carrying needles mounted therein, the eyes of the needles set at an angle to thelongitudinal axis of the machine, a comb located under the needle bar and having guide 2 plates therein between which guide plates the needles reciprocate, a reciprocating cutter head located beneath the'comb and said cutter head provided with a work support and needle guide, said work support and needle guide including spaced metal fingers adapted to support the fabric when pierced by the needles and also preventing a lateral bending of said needles.

10. A tufting machine including a reciprocating needle bar having yarn carrying needles, a comb located beneath the needle bar having plates therein, said plates forming respective compartments for the needles and preventing the needles from axial displacement, a reciprocatingcutter head having a work support and needle guide also located under the comb, and said work support and needle guide including fingers extending directly beneath the plates of the comb and adapted to also straddle the needles HAROLD H. BAYNTON. JAMES WILLIAM FOSTER. 

